Tig welding finger shield

ABSTRACT

Provided for herein is a TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove, comprising (1) a sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material having a first end formed into a pocket to enclose a finger of a TIG welding glove, the sheet having a second end constructed to extend along a side of the TIG welding glove with flame resistant tabs attached to each edge of the second end; and (2) an elastic strap attached to and extending between the flame resistant tabs, the elastic strap and flame resistant tabs configured to wrap around the TIG welding glove to secure the TIG welding finger shield over the finger of the TIG welding glove.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application is directed, in general, to a TIG welding finger shieldand, more specifically, to a shield to cover and protect a welder'sglove finger from heat while TIG welding.

BACKGROUND

The American Welding Society's term for arc welding wherein anon-consumable tungsten electrode is utilized to produce a weld in anarea protected from atmospheric contamination by an inert shielding gasis gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). The process is more generally knownin the trade as tungsten inert gas, or TIG, welding. Hereinafter, theterm “TIG” shall be used.

TIG welding is primarily a manual, hand-held welding method that iscomparatively more complex and difficult than competing processes. Inmost cases TIG welding requires two hands since the welder will bemanipulating a filler metal rod with one hand while the other hand ismanipulating a welding torch. Manual coordination is required tomanually feed filler metal from the filler rod into the weld area withone hand while the other is manipulating the welding torch to maintainproper angle and arc length. For this reason, TIG welding issignificantly slower than most other welding techniques. Properly done,TIG welding results in strong high quality welds, particularly whenwelding stainless steel and non-ferrous metals such as aluminum,magnesium, and copper alloys.

Protective clothing is important to a TIG welder because, in addition tothe heat generated, the TIG welding process subjects the welder tointense light and strong ultraviolet light. As with other weldingtechniques, the TIG welder wears heavy flame resistant gloves asprotection against the heat and UV light. However, the manual dexterityrequired of a TIG welder calls for gloves that are more flexible thanthat required for other welding processes. This is because the weldermust maintain a sense of touch or feel for his tools and his work piece.For this reason, TIG welding gloves are usually leather and arefrequently made of the most flexible skin available, such as kidskin ordeerskin, and are, as a rule, more expensive than welding gloves used inother processes.

In order to maintain the proper welding torch position, the TIG welderwill generally support one or both hands by resting on or proppingagainst some object while welding. Generally either the index or littlefinger is used as a prop against the object, which, in many cases, isthe work piece itself. This, of course, increases the potential for heattransfer from the work piece to the welding glove. Because the TIGwelding glove is generally thinner than welding gloves used in otherwelding processes, the heat generated will feel more intense, even ifthe process itself is conducted at a lower temperature than otherprocesses.

Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a protective shield that canbe placed over the index or little finger of the TIG welding glove inorder to provide better heat protection and increase the useful life ofthe TIG welding gloves.

SUMMARY

One aspect provides a TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove,comprising (1) a sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material having afirst end formed into a pocket to enclose a finger of a TIG weldingglove, the sheet having a second end constructed to extend along a sideof the TIG welding glove with flame resistant tabs attached to each edgeof the second end; and (2) an elastic strap attached to and extendingbetween the flame resistant tabs, the elastic strap and flame resistanttabs configured to wrap around the TIG welding glove and secure the TIGwelding finger shield over the finger of the TIG welding glove. Anotheraspect provides for a method of manufacturing a TIG welding fingershield for a TIG welding glove. Still another aspect provides for amethod of using a TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a planar view of a TIG welding finger shield for a weldingglove constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a planar view of a welding glove with a TIG welding fingershield covering the welding glove index finger;

FIG. 3 is a planar view of a welding glove with a TIG welding fingershield covering the welding glove little finger;

FIG. 4 is a planar isometric view of a welder's gloved hand propped on awork piece while holding a filler metal rod; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing a TIG welding fingershield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning initially to FIG. 1, illustrated is a planar view of a TIGwelding finger shield 100 that is constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. For purposes of clarity of description, FIG. 1 willbe described in conjunction with FIG. 2, which illustrates a planar viewof a welding glove 200 with a TIG welding finger shield 100 covering thewelding glove 200 index finger 210.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a sheet 110 of flexible woven fiberglassmaterial with a first end 120 formed into a pocket 125 to enclose afinger of a TIG welding glove 200, as shown in the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2. A second end 130 of the sheet 110 is constructedto extend along a side 220 of the TIG welding glove 200. Flame resistanttabs 140 are attached to each edge 135 of the second end 130. Attachedto and extending between the flame resistant tabs 140 is an elasticstrap 150. The elastic strap 150 is generally made from syntheticmaterials that melt from excessive heat. The flame resistant tabs 140protect the elastic strap 150 from melting by reducing heat transfer.The elastic strap 150 and flame resistant tabs 140 are configured towrap around the TIG welding glove 200 to secure the TIG welding fingershield 100 over a finger 210 of the TIG welding glove 200, in this casethe index finger 210.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet 110 of flexible wovenfiberglass material has an aluminized Mylar coating 160 bonded thereto.Generally, the aluminized Mylar coating 160 will have a thickness ofabout one thousandth of an inch. In the illustrated embodiment the flameresistant tabs 140 are leather, although other materials may be used inother embodiments.

In the embodiment illustrated, the flame resistant tabs 140 are attachedby sewing the tabs 140 to each edge 135 of the second end 130. Thisembodiment also shows the elastic strap 150 fastened to the flameresistant tabs 140 by rivets 170. Those skilled in the pertinent artwill understand that other fastening means may be used and still bewithin the scope of the intended invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, a second layer 180 of flexible wovenfiberglass material is fastened to the sheet 110 of flexible wovenfiberglass material. This is designed to increase the protectivefeatures of the TIG welding finger shield 100 as well as extend itsuseful life.

Turning to FIG. 3, illustrated is a planar view of a welding glove 200with a TIG welding finger shield 100 covering the little finger 310 ofthe welding glove 200. Turning now to FIG. 4, illustrated is planarisometric view of a welder's gloved hand 400 holding a filler metal rod410 where the welder is using a work piece 420 to prop or support thehand 400 against while working on a weld 430. The other hand holding thewelding torch is not shown but may also be propped against an object,which may also be the work piece 420. As illustrated, the TIG weldingfinger shield 100 is on the little finger 210 of the welding glove 200.This permits the welder to prop against the work piece 420 while slidingthe gloved hand 400 along the weld 430 on the work piece 420, whilefeeding filler metal from the filler metal rod 410 into the weld 430.

Turning now to FIG. 5, illustrated is a flow chart showing oneembodiment of a method of manufacturing 500 a TIG welding finger shield100 for a TIG welding glove 200. The method 500 commences with a startstep 510. In a form pocket step 520, a first end of a sheet of wovenfiberglass material is formed into a pocket to enclose a finger of a TIGwelding glove. In one embodiment the sheet of woven fiberglass materialhas a layer of aluminized Mylar coating bonded to it. The aluminizedMylar coating has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. In anattach tabs step 530, flame resistant tabs are attached to each edge ofthe sheet on the sheets second end that extends along a side of the TIGwelding glove. In one embodiment the flame resistant tabs are leather.In another, the flame resistant tabs are sewn onto the edges of thesheet.

In an attach elastic strap step 540, each end of an elastic strap isattached to the flame resistant tab, so that the flame resistant tabsand elastic strap wrap around the TIG welding glove and secure the TIGfinger heat shield into position over a finger of the TIG welding glove.In one embodiment, the elastic strap is riveted to the flame resistanttabs. The method concludes with an end step 550.

Those skilled in the art to which this application relates willappreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutionsand modifications may be made to the described embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A TIG welding finger shield for a TIG weldingglove, comprising: a sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material havinga first end formed into a pocket to enclose a finger of said TIG weldingglove, said sheet having a second end constructed to extend along a sideof said TIG welding glove with flame resistant tabs attached to eachedge of said second end; and an elastic strap attached to and extendingbetween said flame resistant tabs, said elastic strap and flameresistant tabs configured to wrap around said TIG welding glove tosecure said TIG welding finger shield over said finger of said TIGwelding glove.
 2. The TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 1further including said woven fiberglass material having an aluminizedMylar coating bonded thereto.
 3. The TIG welding finger shield asrecited in claim 2 wherein said aluminized Mylar coating has a thicknessof about one thousandth of an inch.
 4. The TIG welding finger shield asrecited in claim 1 wherein said flame resistant tabs are leather.
 5. TheTIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 1 wherein said elasticstrap is riveted to said flame resistant tabs.
 6. The TIG welding fingershield as recited in claim 1 wherein said flame resistant tabs are sewedto each edge of said second end.
 7. The TIG welding finger shield asrecited in claim 1 further including a second layer of flexible wovenfiberglass material fastened to said sheet of flexible woven fiberglassmaterial.
 8. A method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield for aTIG welding glove, comprising: forming a first end of a sheet of wovenfiberglass material into a pocket to enclose a finger of said TIGwelding glove, said sheet having a second end constructed to extendalong a side of said TIG welding glove with flame resistant tabsattached to each edge of said second end; and attaching an elastic strapto and extending between said flame resistant tabs, said elastic strapand flame resistant tabs configured to wrap around said TIG weldingglove to secure said TIG welding finger shield over said finger of saidTIG welding glove.
 9. The method of manufacturing a TIG welding fingershield as recited in claim 8 further including bonding an aluminizedMylar coating to said woven fiberglass material.
 10. The method ofmanufacturing a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 9 whereinsaid aluminized Mylar coating has a thickness of about one thousandth ofan inch.
 11. The method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield asrecited in claim 8 wherein said flame resistant tabs are leather. 12.The method of manufacturing a TIG welding finger shield as recited inclaim 8 further including riveting said elastic strap to said flameresistant tabs.
 13. The method of manufacturing a TIG welding fingershield as recited in claim 8 further including sewing said flameresistant tabs to each edge of said second end.
 14. The method ofmanufacturing a TIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 8 furtherincluding attaching a second layer of flexible woven fiberglass materialto said sheet of flexible woven fiberglass material.
 15. A method ofusing a TIG welding finger shield for a TIG welding glove, comprising:locating a TIG welding finger shield over a finger of said TIG weldingglove, said TIG welding finger shield consisting of; a sheet of flexiblewoven fiberglass material having a first end formed into a pocket toenclose said finger of said TIG welding glove, said sheet having asecond end constructed to extend along a side of said TIG welding glovewith flame resistant tabs attached to each edge of said second end; andattaching an elastic strap to and extending between said flame resistanttabs, said elastic strap and flame resistant taps configured to wraparound said TIG welding glove to secure said TIG welding finger shieldover said finger of said TIG welding glove.
 16. The method of using aTIG welding finger shield as recited in claim 15 further including saidwoven fiberglass material having an aluminized Mylar coating bondedthereto.
 17. The method of using a TIG welding finger shield as recitedin claim 16 wherein said aluminized Mylar coating has a thickness ofabout one thousandth of an inch.
 18. The method of using a TIG weldingfinger shield as recited in claim 15 wherein said flame resistant tabsare leather.
 19. The method of using a TIG welding finger shield asrecited in claim 15 wherein said elastic strap is riveted to said flameresistant tabs.
 20. The method of using a TIG welding finger shield asrecited in claim 15 wherein a second layer of flexible woven fiberglassmaterial is attached to said sheet of flexible woven fiberglassmaterial.